CO129-382 - Public Offices - 1911 — Page 236

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REPORT ON THE OPENING OF THE FIRST SECTION OF

THE CANTON KOWLOON RAIDWAY (CHINESE SECTION).

On December 5th the first section of that part of the Canton-Kowloon Railway which is under Chinese management was opened with some ceremony. Invitations were freely issued to the native and foreign officials of Canton and Hongkong, and of the six hundred or so persons asked some three hundred put in an appearance at the Ta Sha T'ou, the Canton terminus. Neither the Governor nor Colonial Secretary of Hongkong were able to attend, but were represented by Mr. C. Clementi, the Assistant Colonial Secretary. The senior Chinese official present was the Provincial Treasurer the Acting Governor General deciding to absent himself as the previous evening had been the occasion of a clan fight some ten to twelve miles down the line.

The station building at Ta Sha T'ou is a handsome red brick two-floored structure, providing ample accommodation in offices and waiting rooms for all traffic that may reasonably be expected and compares favourably with the stations on the Yush-Han or North China Railways. A glass covered roof shelters the

platform up to the entrance to the carriages. In all

respects Ta Sha T'ou station fully meets with all re-

quirements

A special train of eight coaches, the accommo-

dation of which was strained to the utmost, had been provided to convey the guests to Tong Mei, twenty-five miles down the line, lack of time preventing a visit to Hsien Ts'un, the end of the section. The train travelled at an average speed of 35.40 miles, and the excellence

of